Mysterious Skin - Director’s Edition

"Mysterious Skin" is by far one of director Gregg Araki's most famous films. The auteur director is mostly known for edgy indies with bisexual hotties and crazy cameos. He discovered Mena Suvari and Rose McGowan and had surprisingly celeb-filled casts.

However, his adaption of Scott Heim's controversial novel is what he is most known for. This is in part because of how he handled the subject matter of the book, but also because the film also helped define Joseph Gordon-Levitt's career. The director's edition of the Blu-ray is available for fans, movie buffs, and aficionados alike.

It's been ten years since the film since the film was made. Ten years can be a lifetime in Hollywood. Before the film, Levitt was in teenage comedy limbo given his work on "3rd Rock from the Sun." Fellow stars Michelle Trachtenberg and Elizabeth Shue had not been working much. Brady Corbet was just a teenager at the time of filming.

The Blu-Ray features a few looks back in the special features. There is an interview with Levitt and Corbet at 2014's Sundance Film Festival. It's pretty monumental to get a huge star like Levitt to talk about this film. However, Levitt mentions that he can trace most of his major work to this film. People rarely remember that Levitt's films before this include his childhood roles in "Angels in the Outfield" and the teen comedy "10 Things I Hate About You."

However, Levitt mentions that he can trace most of his major work to this film.

Corbet also went on to find some star in indies like "Melancholia" and "Martha Marcy May Marlene." This interview segment is pretty different because it feels, for lack of a better word, indie. It seems like the two actors were caught having a deep conversation about filmmaking and their careers rather than being pitched questions for a bonus feature. That authenticity gives the Blu-ray an edge and really feels like this movie is pretty meaningful to film history.

The Blu-ray also features an interview with the source material's author. At times it can feel dry because it's more of a to-camera description about his feelings about the film. He does reveal some interesting anecdotes about the making of the film and some background about the book. But it can be a bit laborious to sit through.

All of the original DVD features are included on the Blu-ray. The commentary has Araki, Levitt, and Corbet recounting the making of the film. Die-hard Levitt fans will enjoy this. There are also deleted scenes, pages from the original script, and the two actors reading excerpts from the book. There is also footage from their original auditions.

"Mysterious Skin" is an intense book with even more intense subject matter. However, Araki's unique and skilled hand elevate this indie to a very high status. Despite the dark subject matter, the acting is impeccable and you can see why these actors have become stars.